Explosive San Angelo Central Squad Squeaks by Midland High

MIDLAND, TX—The Central Bobcats escaped Grande Communications Stadium with their fifth-straight district championship after a narrow 21-14 win over Midland High.

"Anytime we come to Midland, its like this," Coach Davis said of the margin of victory. "Midland and Lee play well at home."

The win marks an extension of the Bobcat's record run of district championships over the last few years.

WATCH Central Coach Brent Davis:
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"It says everything about [the culture]," Davis said after the game. "The never-give-up attitude, doing what we've gotta do to win. You're not going to blow anybody out, especially in our district."

Central's offense looked to improve after last week, tallying 315 total yards of offense. Midland's offense, however, came to play and put 289 yards on the Bobcats.

Junior Quarterback Maverick McIvor and the offense utilized the big play all night. The first such play came in the first quarter when McIvor would find Teeter 20 yards downfield. Central got the scoring started later in their opening drive. The Bobcats would eventually march 70 yards downfield where McIvor would find Senior Receiver Jesse Scott streaking up the sideline from nine yards out to make the score 7-0. 

WATCH: McIvor to Scott makes it 14-7 Central. 1:37 2Q
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Midland would respond to Central's opening salvo with an 18-yard touchdown pass from Suddin Sapien to Michael Galindo to tie the game at seven early in the second quarter.

Scott would be involved in another explosive play when McIvor would hit the senior receiver for a 48-yard catch-and-run to set the Bobcats up at Midland's 11-yard line. Three plays later, the duo would connect again for an 11-yard score through the air, Scott's second and final touchdown of the night.

Scott finished the night with 147 yards receiving to go with the two scores.

The teams would go into the break with that same score.

Coming out of the half, Central's Otto Haynes would take the opening kick 59 yards down to Midland's 11.

"Before [the kick return] happened, I prayed to God to let me do something," Haynes said. "I want to thank everyone on the field who was blocking for me and my coaches."

Central came away empty handed, however, when a 28-yard field goal wound up sneaking under the crossbar by Gage Smith.

After the teams traded a few possessions, Central would find the promised land again with 42 seconds left in the third quarter. McIvor would find senior Henry Teeter for a seven-yard touchdown to extend Central's lead to 21-7.

Midland wasn't quite done, though. The Bulldogs scored on a five minute drive early in the fourth quarter thanks to a Central penalty and a one-yard run by Tim Gates to pull within one touchdown.

Central's defense would be called in to action once again on a fourth-and-29 for Midland. Sapien would find his receiver Jalen Terhune. Terhune would get the ball close to the first-down marker, but ultimately come up two yards shy of the first down.

Central remains unbeaten at 9-0 and 5-0 in district. The Bobcats will look to lock up the entire district title next week when they host Amarillo Tascosa (6-3, 2-3) at San Angelo Stadium.